YouTube has long been hailed as a platform that offers viewers unbiased opinions and information, free from external influences. Many gamers turn to YouTube to hear their favorite streamers' take on the latest upcoming games.
However, a massive debate has erupted on social media following the shocking revelation about how many gaming YouTube channels operate.
After the release of the indie game Spiritea, the publisher took to Twitter to divulge the details of their marketing strategy for the game.
The CEO, Mike Rose, stated: "That's just how this works now. YouTubers want you to pay them to cover your games.
"But I just don't want to do that. It feels weird and icky and disingenuous, and I just can't do it.
"So I guess our games won't get covered on YouTube anymore!"
Many YouTubers retaliated against these statements on the platform, arguing that developers should pay them to cover new games.
The reason behind this is YouTube's reduced payouts, which have made sponsorships the primary source of income for many content creators.
While sponsored content and streams are clearly marked, this is not what the YouTubers were referring to.
Instead, they are talking about videos where creators play games and give their opinions along the way.
It is illegal to promote a product without disclosing a sponsorship, as financial transactions can influence someone's opinion of the game.
However, this new information reveals that many YouTubers request money from developers before creating content featuring their games.
There are numerous videos on YouTube where creators influence their audience without disclosing that they were paid to play the game.
What's most shocking is the large number of creators who openly admit to this practice and see no issue in asking for payment for such content.
This revelation challenges the notion that YouTubers produce independent and unbiased content for their viewers.
If you're interested in reading more about gaming, check out our article on the 80+ highly rated games leaving PS Plus in December.
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